WHY IS MY TEACHER SO CONFUSING

Question

okay so in math class we're learning simplifying and solving equations and i already learned this last year (i'm in a new school) but it's also been a full year since i've done it so i've forgotten a little bit and my math teacher now brought it up and i was like "yeah i remember that" but he's teaching it such a different way and i'm freaking out because i'm already failing this class it's terrible i feel so stupid so i know this isn't really a problem solving question but i wanted to know if you could give me advice on what websites could help me understand better or like i don't know but yeah okay thanks bye

Answer 1

Gillian,

 

I sympathize with you.  Many teachers are insensitive to what students need.  Teachers have different approaches sometimes.  Frankly, some teachers do not understand the subject very well and pass their confusion on to students.  In general, students are at the mercy of teachers.  

 

To find out if your teacher is willing to go half-way and try to understand your problem and help you, I suggest you talk with your teacher to see if he/she is willing to help you out of class.  

 

If you would like to contact me, I would be glad to further advise you on your situation.  I don't charge for advice, only for tutoring.

 

Good luck

Answer 2

Hi Gillian;

I know what you are going through.  I work in retail.  Very often, I am given a task which is a duplicate of what I executed a few months earlier.  I am certain I remember how to do it and therefore do not need to review the project specifications.  However, when I execute the task, I realize I cannot do it.

 

A few years ago, I worked at Lord & Taylor Department Stores.  As we were about to execute inventory, the human resources manager shared with us that she was having such a problem.  She was certain she remembered how to do it.  Then, she picked-up the computer device and realized she remembered nothing.

 

If I were in your position, the first thing I would do is discuss this with your instructor.  If you are uncomfortable with a face-to-face discussion, you can send an e-mail.  Explain that for you this is a repeat, but instructed differently.  Perhaps you can re-take the exams and/or homework you failed.  Or, you can ask for additional assignments to boost your grade.  If you have copies of your homework and exams of one year ago, perhaps you can present this to such teacher as evidence of your issue.

 

Otherwise, other Wyzant students have asked for similar help.  However, they were not talking about repeating a lesson, but rather failing even though they understood the material.  This is the advise I gave them...

 

When I was in high school and college, I sometimes failed or performed below normal on exams.  This occurred even though the instructor knew that I fully comprehended the lessons.  It was a mystery for several years, until one event occurred.

 

I was working in the office of a supermarket.  The head bookkeeper was training me to execute the morning cash-report.  I was accurately using the adding-machine at a rapid, normal pace.  I suddenly slowed-down and began making mistakes.  The head bookkeeper immediately noticed this and said, "Vivian, you are thinking.  Do not think.  There is nothing to think about here."  I returned to my normal speed and the mistakes stopped.

 

Perhaps you are thinking when there is nothing to think about?